The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-15
RISE OF THE NEGRO RACE
Its Progress and Prospects Ably Dis
cussed by Hon. Blanche K. Bruce.
the Race Problem-What the Black Man
Has Done Since His Enfranchsement.

At Plymouth Church. last evening, to quite
large audience, Hon. b. K Bruce delivered his
lecture on THE Race Problem" The successful
career OF this distinguished Mississippian is it
self proof of the solution which he asserts
must be reached before his people can attain the
best results of their enfranchisement. MIR.
Bruce introduced by Ex-Governor Porter,
who referred to him the successor of Jefferson
Davis 10 the United States Senate. He began
his Official career. though. as sheriff. "AH the
office of sheriff." said the Governor. lis one Of
great promise, you know. there il telling
what the future may have in store for the gen.
teman who will now address you This hit
brought a round of applause, which strength
ened as Mr.. Bruce stepped to the stand. He
began his lecture with the statement that
changes had taken place in this country during
the past twenty-five years which couid not have
occurred in Europe in hundred years Amer
ica in fertility o. soil, climatic conditions.
extent of the country. intelligence and industry
of her people has all the advantages owned by
all other countries. Settled by variety
of nationalities of which the Anelo-Saxon in
time became dominant the result is the Ameri
can Republic and better still the Ameri-
can people. The best qualities of other Euro
pean nations have been engrafted in the Anglo
Saxon. and though the Americans are hstero-
geneous they are yet the most homogeneous
people on the globe. They present to-
day under the same domestic government and
political conditions the four typical races of the
world. The Caucasians once constituted the
sole ruling class. The Mongolians are aliens
and without political autonomy Tho Indians
are dealt with by treaties and the blacks ware
once no moro than property. From the Indians
lands have been taken. from the yellow race
labor and from the blacks the control of their
own persons.
Passing from this thought he said that for
more than two hundred years the relations OF
tho two races in the South had bssn on the idea
that one inferior. and upon that slavery
rested. It was asserted that the blacks could
not stand alone. that their true condition must
be that of subordnation. but civilization is
stronger than nations themselves. He illustrated
this by the decadence of the Roman people. or
whose civilization France, Austria, England and
the minor nations the bcnsficiariss. Ii IN
time the Latin races are TO give way to the
Tentonic powers, and they ia turn to
stronger people, is there not reason to fear that
the Slavs. descendants Of the fierce Tartars,
will become dominant over all Europe! They
have for thousand years or more maintained
their characteristics and are growing in physical
and political power. The Russian sert. though
emancipation about the time freedom
was given TO the American blacks
When slavery was abolished grave doubts were
urged whether the black men would become in
dustrious. 1t was said that in freedom they
would be indolent. thriftless, licentious. turbu-
lent AS slaves, for 200 years they had Upheld
the industry OF large section OF the country,
while others acquired the benefits OF their labors
As freenen they producing far greater re-
suits than ever before. Instead OF conhning
themselves to husbandry they are pushing into
the world as mechanics manufacturers, preach
1n
adjoining their homes, educating their child
and showing in the highest degree the result
of civilizne influences. They are exhibiting an
industrial independence and endurance with
out a parallel
When the 4. 900. 900 black people were eman.
cipasad, 1t has been represented that each had
less than twenty-five cents. They owned no
land nor the poor cabins in which they lived
With freedom, the Russian serf procured BIT
of land, but to the negro came nothing but the
knowledge that he would no longer be- held as
property He went to work ut oncs and monop-
olized. as freeman. the agricultural labor or
the South. Efforts have been made to supplsnt
him, but they have failed because it is found
that the negro can work more hours in day
and wait longer for his pay than any other per-
son. He had only the Freedmens Bureau to
help him adjust himself to the new situation,
but when the ballot given him he had moth
ing whatever TO teach him the duties OF citizen
sLip. It was natural that mistakes should oc-
the right of suffrage, but in the failure of the
government to protect him In its exercise
The attainment of civic excellence by the me-
groes demands that they shall be Informed. DIS
ciplined and educated. Nearly one-third OF the
population in the South cannot read nor write
In the North there only 1.U0O, 600 iliiterates
out of a population of 100000 In the South
1,500 600 black children are deprived OF educa-
tional advantages. This would be a matter OF
little i'm portance if these children were the
children of slaves, but IT is of vast Importance
when it 10 considered that these llliterates Will
in time have the same right to vote that belongs
to the most distinguished man IN the country.
Mr.. Bruce said more schools were needed IN the
South, and suggested that the treasury surplus
could be applied to this end. There WAS plenty
of consideration given to the question OF rsliev-
ing whisky and tobacco of taxation, but none to
that of opriating the surplus for educational
PURPOSES
He then referred to the incidents of progress
the coored people had made in their industrial.
intellectual, moral and religious development.
They were superstitious, II is said but not more
so than their white brother. 1t was true the
ignorant colorsd man in the swamps OF Louis.
lana carried with him rabbits foot to keep of
evil spirits, but the intelligent white man put
the horseshoe over bis door to keep the witches
out. This colored people were intensely reiig-
ious. He did not know OF half dozen skeptics
among themA In Congress- since the war, there
have been eighteen colored members. Not one
of them was ever before an investigating COM
mitree to answer charge OF official mIscon-
duct. Not ever the subject of public or
private scandal Marriage among the blacks
was held sacred, and benevolent societies were
numerous among them.
II had been proposed to set these people apart
in three or four territories. That was impracti-
cable for 1t would require a soldier to
every one Of the 100000 men, women
and children to keep them there and to
keep the white out Colonization in
Africa was equally impractlcabe. because 1t
would require the ships of the world to transport
the rapidly increasing American blacks, and then
it could not be done, for it is estimated that
every day 600 colored children are born 10 this
country The black is here and he If
here to stay He did not believe there ever
would be in this country conflict of races. for the
true solution Of the race problem was American
ization and that was being rapidly accomplished
for the colored man took American civilization
like duck to water.